The 1930s version is far superior to this, I will try to overactive or act none act all, version. Why have Chris Sarandon sitting in the booth in a pub facing one another is awful. Instead of Sarandon playing two roles (Darnay and Carton) they should have had two actors, ridiculous. Further, the Sydney Carton character should be more gritty and more layered, here is not.
They have to be different actors (Carton & Darnay) because it makes for a better film, since they aren't twins. And Sarandon is awful as Carton, he looks a little like Mike Myers character Wayne Campbell in "Wayne's World." Just awful and as Darnay, maybe worse. His only good role was in "Fright Night."
Lastly, the black and white film of 1935 is far superior and has so much more grit and also has more "characters" (meaning, literally more in the 1935 film than this one AND even the actors that play the characters are characters in their own right) and the grit and link boys in the old film give it such greatness.
Forget this film and watch the 1935 version with Ronald Coleman and you will see a ten, Colmans film and a one, this film. You will not be disappointed in the 1935 film and thank me later, maybe (lol).
Thanks.
God Bless.
James.
P.S. I give the movie a three only because it has Peter Cushing in the movie and maybe George Innes, but he is in the film not much and even though Cushion isn't either, Cushion is or had a far better pedigree up to this point.